“It wasn’t me,” says nabbed chain snatcher

Aug 23, 2009 News

Officials from the city constabulary department told this publication that at least one chain or cellular phone is snatched in the Stabroek Market environs daily.
While their department has received flak for infrequent arrests, they begged to differ, stating that a number of snatchers have been arrested, passed through the courts and are serving time in prison. This likely will be the fate of one offender who was nabbed yesterday.

‘It wasn’t me’ says alleged chain snatcher Junior Robinson

Just before noon, Junior Robinson, a Charlestown youth believed to be part of a four-member gang of ‘snatchers’ caused quite a rumpus after he allegedly snatched a chain from a shopper in the Stabroek Market.
Carefully selecting his prey, he waited for the opportune moment and grabbed the chain valued at $80,000 from an unsuspecting Kenrick Dundas and made a dash for it. However, Dundas raised an alarm while giving chase and soon enough, public-spirited citizens got involved. The snatcher managed to get as far as Demico House where he was apprehended.
Amidst his cries of “it wasn’t me” a fleet of blows followed from those who chased him and he eventually admitted to dropping the chain during his thwarted escape bid.
Some including the chain owner said they believe that he swallowed it while one woman reported seeing him passing the chain to another man.
Eventually he was handed over to a city constable rank and was taken to the Stabroek city constabulary outpost. Charges are likely to be laid shortly. While he maintains that he is innocent, several police ranks visited the outpost and said he is a known character who operates with three others.
In custody, the 19 year-old with several bruises about his body said “me is not a thief and me never involve in these things.”
Relaying his version of what transpired he said he was awaiting the arrival of a friend at Demico House to collect some money “to go into the bush (interior) but he ain’t come.”
He said it was while he was standing there he saw a man whom he knew from Charlestown. “He asked me to follow he in the Market and when we get there he tell me shadow the man and something about eating he food, then he snatch the chain and run. I didn’t do nothing but I start to run too,” he said.
When asked why he ran, he said “me see the man run so I run too.”
The victim of the robbery identified the teen as the snatcher and said he immediately gave chase after him. This publication was in the environs shortly after the incident and heard the man in custody identifying his gang members.

(Mondale Smith)

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